Welcome, y’all
Posted on Wednesday, September 3, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/adg/Editorial/236217/
OF COURSE you’re not intruding.
Come on in here, take a load off.
Want something to eat ? Maybe a blanket or dry shirt ? It’s no problem at all. This is getting to be a regular thing, and we mean that in a good way. People used to think they could wait out hurricanes along the Gulf. Even throw hurricane parties—complete with Hurricanes, the adult beverages. And maybe plug in an old tape of that really bad 1970 s TV movie, Hurricane. Starring the late great Frank Sutton, among others. Katrina and Rita may have put an end to most of that, at least for a while. How long do you think it’ll be before hurricanes are considered no big deal again, before folks start shrugging off warnings, before Katrina becomes only vaguely recalled history rather than a stark warning ? We’d really rather you folks from Louisiana and Mississippi tarry with us for a while than try to ride out these storms at home. Even if this one rolled ashore a Category 2. To quote that renowned meteorologist, Fats Waller, one never knows, do one ? So welcome, y’all. The last time we got together our football team was beating your football team. That was last year, wasn’t it ? It’s been too long. Set a spell. Straighten us out about those Bayou Bengals. Or anything else. We’re all ears.
And stay as long as you like. You’ll notice that our governor has changed since the last time so many of you visited. Back in 2005, a man named Mike Huckabee was running the state. Now it’s a governor named Mike Beebe welcoming you to our homes / shelters / churches. This new Gov is just as friendly as the last one, so don’t feel embarrassed to ask for something. We’re all neighbors, right ?
Right. Because we remember the year 2000. It was just around Christmas, too. And Arkansas was covered—coveredwith ice. An ice storm hit this state that awed even old timers. We were without power, without transportation, without a lot of things. Then generators starting showing up on trucks with Louisiana license plates. And we began to dig out.
Thank you for your help back then.
Now, can we get you a cup of coffee ? Maybe a sandwich ? Just linger for a couple of days until the utility crews can clean up after that Gustav fella.
Besides, we watched some Fox News footage from New Orleans over the weekend and Geraldo Rivera was in New Orleans, doing what Geraldo does, which is to make a royal ass of himself. The farther you get away from him and his cameraman, the better off you’ll be. So set a spell.